Electric connection and the like



31,1940. 7 V H CHRISTEN 2 ,227,123

ELECTRIC CONNECTION AND THE LIKE 2 Filed Sept. 12, 1938 424 a a IINVENIOR I 3 1 2 yz'cfor ff. Cir-155 Patented Dec. 31, 1940 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE ELECTRIC CONNECTION AND 'rnn LIKE Victor H.Christen, Detroit, Mich.

Application September 12, 1938, Serial No. 229,465

vc Claims. (01. 173-334) The present invention relates to electricconnector means and particularly relates to electric light connectionsfor Christmas trees and the like.

One of the primary objects of the present invention is to provide animproved socket construction which is adapted to separately receive andretain therein circuit contact elements in an improved manner.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved multiplesocket which is adapted to receive a plurality of pairs of conductorelements whereby the individual pairs are in parallel.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved electriccontact terminal element associated with an electric lead wire.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved socket whichis adapted to separabiy receive conductor elements and in which cam orwedging means are provided for wedging the conductor elements intopositive electric contact with associated contact elements.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved bulb socketconstruction in. which a cap is provided over the bottom and extends upalong and, resiliently engages the sides of the socket.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved Christmas treelights having a plurality of separable, multiple sockets and separablewire sockets connectable thereto, in which the wires may be of differentlengths and in which the circuits are in parallel.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved clamping meansassociated with the lead wires, instead of the socket, whereby aneconomical construction is provided and in which the socket may beplaced on top of a branch of a tree rather than on the side thereof.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved manner offastening sockets on the tree trunk of Christmas trees.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent from the followingspecification, the drawing relating thereto and from the claims 4.5hereinafter set forth.

In the drawing, in which like numerals are used to designate like partsin the several views throughout:

Figure l is a side elevational view of a Christmas tree having electricconnections according to the present invention associated therewith;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of one of the multiple socketswith an associated conductor separated therefrom according to thepresent invention;

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line 3-3of Fig. 2 and showing the conductors in position within the socket;

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line 4-4of Fig. 2 and also show- 5 ing the conductors within the socket;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged elevational view with parts broken away showingparts in cross-section of an improved form of connection constructionfor the conductors according to the present 10 invention;

Figs. 6 and 7 are views similar to Fig. 5 illustrating modified formsthereof;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating the lamp socket,the bottom cover ther- 15 for, the conductor extending into the socket,and the clamping means for the wire, all according to the presentinvention;

Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line 9-9of Fig. 8; 20

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the cover means illustrated in Figs. 8and 9;

Fig. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along the linell-ll of Fig. 8;

Fig. 12 is a front elevatlonal view with parts 2 broken awayillustrating parts in cross-section of an electrical connection adaptedfor use as a wall plug according to the present invention; and,

Fig. 13 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along the lineI3--l3 of Fig. 12. 30

Referring to the drawing, in Fig. 1 the top portion of a Christmas treeI0 is illustrated having multiple sockets generally indicated at l2,according to the present invention, attached thereto. 35

In Figs. 2 to 5 a socket and conducting wires according to the presentinvention, are illustrated in detail. The socket includes a housing I4formed of suitable insulating material such as Bakelite or the like; andsuch socket is provided 40 Q with a pair of longitudinally extendingsubstantially parallel recesses it which are preferably circular incross-section. Such recesses it may be formed through the top wall ofthe housing and extend downwardly toward the bottom but 45 terminateshort of the bottom thereof to provide The circuit includes a pluralityof conductors 55 23 each having a pair of conducting wires 24 which arecovered with insulating material 26. The pairs of wires are joinedtogether, by the insulating material, over substantially their entirelength but are separated adjacent their ends in the form of a fork asshown in Fig. 2,. Each wire extends beyond the insulation 26, as bestshown in Fig. 5, and this extending end portion is adapted to be fixedin electrical contact with an en- Iarged terminal member 28.

In Fig. 5 the enlarged terminal member is in the form of a hollow ballor head having diametmaterial 26 extends up against the portion of theterminal member 28 surrounding the opening 30 so that-the member 28forms an enlargement over the conductors formed by the wire 24 with thesurrounding insulating material 26.

A conductor 38 having a pair of wires and insulation similar totheconductors 23 is also provided and such conductor is adapted .toextend to a suitable source of electric current. The con- I ductor 38has enlarged ball members 28 disposed on one end of each of the wires inthe same man-. ner as those described above.

In order to dispose the conductors within the housing l2 the two wireshaving the insulating material thereon forming the conductor 38 areinserted through openings 40 in the rear wall of the housing l2, one ofsuch openings 40 being provided for each of the grooves 46. The ends ofthe wires of the conductor 38 are forked or separated a greater distancealong the length thereof than the conductor 23 so that the ends of thewires may extend forwardly through the enlarged openings 22. Theenlarged terminal elements 28 may then be attached to the exposed endsof the wires of the conductor 38 in the manner described above. Suchenlarged terminals 28 may then be moved through the enlarged openings 22to positions within the recesses IS. The

terminals 28 of the conductor 38 are adapted to be placed lowermostwithin the recesses 46 and nal elements 48 have been received within therecesses such terminal members contact with each other and with themember 28 of the conductor 38 so that allof theterminal members28:within each of-the recesses are in contact with each other.

When the terminal members 28 are in the position indicated the insulatedwires extend through the slots20 and such terminal members 28 may not belaterally displaced due to the fact that the slot- 20 is of less widththan the width of the recesses l6 and the width of the terminal members28.

In order to prevent longitudinal displacement of the terminal members28. so that such members may notmove outwardly through the enlargedopening 22, and to retain such terminal members in contact with eachother, a wedging and closure means is provided. Such closure meansincludes a plate member 44 having integral legs 46 formed on the rearface thereof. The legs 46 are adapted to be received within the slots'22and within the recesses l6 and aligned openings are provided in suchportions 46 which are adapted to pivotally receive a pivot pin 48. Thepivot pin 48 may be fixed in the end walls of the housing 16 so that themember 44 with the projecting legs 46 may be pivoted relative to thehousing. A forward projection 50 may be provided on the. front face ofthe member 44 to provide a convenient means for grasping the platemember 44 to pivot the same about the pivot pin 48. The leg portions 46are so constructed and arranged and are preferably curved as indicatedat 52 so that as the member 44 is pivoted the leg portions 46 engage andwedge the terminal members 28 downwardly within the recesses l6 andresiliently'against the springs 42. The plate member .44 covers theenlarged openings 22 so that the terminal members 28 may not bedisplaced therethrough. This construction assures contact between themembers 28 and also prevents accidental or unintentional displacement ofthe terminal members 28 from within the hous- The conductor members 23may be of non-uniform length and the outer ends of the wires may beplaced in electrical contact with' bulb socket members as shown in Figs.8 and 9. 'Such bulb socket members include an outer housing member 54which is generally cylindrical in shape and which is open through thetop. A metallic contact member 56 which is adapted to threadably receivethe base of a bulb 51 is fixed within the housing 54 by means ofsuitable insulating material 58. An insulated base 60 is disposed withinthe base of the member 56 and receives a contact element 62 therethroughwhich is insulated from the member 56. One of the wires 24 is adapted tobe fixed to the member 62 in electrical contact therewith. The otherwire 24 is adapted to be fixed'to the member 56. The circuit is thenthrough the bulb in the usual way.

So that the bolt socket 54 may be placed on a Christmas tree branch inan upright position, a lateral opening 64 is provided through the wallof the member 54 adjacent the lower end there- The conductor 23 isadapted 'to extend through this lateral opening so that the base of thesocket'may rest upon the top of a branch,

.andthebulb be positioned within the socket in an upright position asshown in Fig. 1.

In order to cover the base and provide adeco- -;.rative appearance, acup-shaped member 66 having a circular base portion 68 and upstandingresilient fingers 18 is provided. Suchcup member may be disposed overthe lower end of the member 54 with the, fingers l resiliently engagingthe outer walls of the member 54 to resiliently retain the cap in place.

This cap member prevents accidental chipping orbreaking of the inmember12 is provided which is preferably formed Such 'clip' of a resilientstrip metal member. v member is bent to embrace the conductor 23, asbest shown in Figs. 8 and 11 and is provided with a reversely bentresilient portion 1.4. Such reversely bent resilient portion I4 is bentinwardly asindicated at 16 to preferably form broken edges 18 which areadapted to bite into the branch of the Christmas tree in order to retainthe bulb socket in position. The clip 12 is placed closely adjacent tothe juncture of the conductor element 23 with the socket 54, and theresilient portion I4 extends under the conductor 23 so that theconductor and bulb socket- 54 may be disposed onthe top of one of thebranches. may also be placed on other portions of the conductor elementif desired so as to further fix the conductor element on the branches.

A plurality of the multiple sockets I! may be placed on the Christmastree in which event only one of such sockets need be provided with awall plug 80. Such wall plug 80 is fixed to one of the conductorelements 38. The other conductor elements 38 may be formed at each endwith the enlarged terminal members 28 so that one end of the conductor38 may be placed within one of the housings H as shown in Fig. 3 whilethe other end may be placed within another socket l2 in the same manneras the conductor element 23. In this wayany number of such multiplesockets may be used to accommodate any number of lights.

An improved and simplified manner of attaching the multiple socket tothe Christmas tree is provided which includes a plate member 82 which isbent adjacent the lower end to extend under the member l2 as indicatedat 83 and extends upwardly along one side thereof. The top end of themember 82 may be fixed to the housing by means of a tack or rivet 84. Aplurality of'tacks 86 are disposed through openings in the member 82 sothat the heads thereof lie behind the member 82 with. the sharp pointsprojecting outwardly therefrom. Such sharp points may be readily .driveninto the trunk of the Christmas tree to attach the members l2 thereto.

In Fig. 6 a modified form of terminal element is provided which includesa substantially solid metal ball member 90. Such ball member 90 has anopening 92 therethrough through which the extending end of the wire 2%projects. A tapped opening 9d is provided through the member 80 and isadapted to threadably receive therein a screw member 96. The end of thewire at lies within the recess provided by the tapped opening 94 and thewire may be fixed to ball member 90 by screwing the member 96 againstthe wire 2 2. This construction provides a ready means by which theterminal members 90 may be removed when desired.

In Fig. 7 another-modified form of terminal member .is provided in'theform of a solid cylinder 98. Such cylinder is provided with an opening99 therethrough through which the wire as extends. A recess I! isprovided in the member 98 and the extreme end of the wire 24 extendswithin this recess. The wire may then be fixed to the member 98 by meansof solder I02 which is disposed within the recess IN. V

In Figs. 12 and 13 a modified form'of the present invention isillustrated in which the invention is adapted foruse on wall outlets.Such wall outlets generally involve the removal of plaster from the wallproviding an opening and the insertion of a metal shell I04 within suchopening. Such metal shell is provided with inwardly disposed anglebrackets I06 having tapped openings therethrough for the reception ofscrews I08. Such-screws I08 are adapted to be received through suitableopenings in the housing of the socket member in order to removablyretain such socket member in place.

Such clip According to the present invention an insulated housing H0 isprovided having an outwardly disposed flange H2 therearound withoppositely disposed openings therethrough for the reception of thescrews I08 in order to removably fix the housing to the brackets M6. Thehousing M0 is generally formed in the same manner as the housingdescribed above in that it is provided with longitudinally extendingrecesses I I2 which correspond to the recesses l6 above described.Longitudinally extending slots H4 having en larged portions H6,corresponding to the slots 20 and the enlarged portions 22 abovedescribed, are also provided through the front face of the housing i In.The terminal members 28 are adapted to be received through the enlargedpor tions H6 and seat within the recesses M2 with the insulated wiresextending through the slots I It in the same relation as thecorresponding ele ments described above.

The terminal members 28 are adapted to seat upon metal contact membersH0 in the form of inverted cups which in turn rest upon spring elementsI20. The spring elements 928 bear against metal contact members H22which are disposed across the lower open ends of the recesses H2. Thecontact members I22 are angle shaped so that one side'thereof extendsalong the side of housing H0. Suitable screws 82 i are disposed withinthe housing H0 and extend through openings in the members M2 to fixthese members in place on the housing. Suitable lead wires I26 areelectrically connected to the respective contact members i22 throughnuts E28 on the screw members 824 in the usual way.

The ball members are retained within a slot M2 by means generallysimilar to the plate member Ed above described. Such means include aplate member R30 which extends across the front face of the housing H9and is provided with rearwardly disposed legs 832 which extend Withinthe slots lid. The slots lid extend upwardly to a position adjacent thetop of the housing and are connected by a communicating slot 836. Theportions E32 are pivotally mounted on a pivot pin 0% which extendstransversely of the housing and may be fixedto the end walls thereof. A

. forwardly projecting handle M0 may be formed integral with the memberi30 on the front face thereof so that the member 830 may be readilypivoted from the position shown in broken lines to the position shown infull lines in Fig. 13. When the handle is in its uppermost position theenlarged openings H6 are exposed so that the ter-' minal members 28 maybe inserted therethrough or removed therefrom. When in the positionshown in full lines the lower edge of the members I32, which arepreferably cam shaped in order to provide a wedging action, urge theterminal member 28 downwardly against the cup members H8. I i

A rectangular frame member l40'ma'y be disposed around-the peripheraledge of the housing H0 and in overlapping relation to the shell i436 fordecorative purposes if desired.

Formal changes may be made in the specific embodiment of the inventiondescribed without departing from the spirit and substance of theinvention, the'scope of which is commensurate with the appended claims.

What is claimed is: l

1. An electric connector means comprising, in combination, a pair ofinsulated conducting wires having enlarged metallic contact elements attheir terminals, an insulated housing having a rower than said'co-ntactelements so that said contact elements are, retained within saidrecesses with said wires extending through said slots; othercontactelements disposed within said housingengaging. said first namedcontact ele ments for establishing an electrical connectiontherebetween, and a movable meansv covering the enlargedportions of saidslots movable into engagement with said first named contact elements tohold said first named contact elements in contact with said othercontact elements.

'2. An electric connector means comprising, in combination, a pair ofinsulated conducting wires having enlarged metallic contact elements attheirterminals, an insulated housing having a pair of elongatedrecessestherein, said recesses openingithroughnarrow elongated slots in one faceof said housing, said slots having enlarged portions for the receptionof said contact elements, the major portion of said slots being narrowerthan said contactelements so that said contact elements are retainedwithin said recesses with said wires extending through said slots, othercontact elements disposed within said housing engaging said first namedcontact elements for establishing an electrical connection therebetween,and movable means having wedging surfaces pivotally mounted on saidhousing, said last named means being so constructed and arranged as tocover the enlarged portions or" said slots and to engage and wedge saidfirst named contact elements downwardly within said recesses when saidmovable means is in one position into contact with said other contactelements.

3. An electric connectormeans comprising, in combination, a plurality ofpairs or" insulated conducting wires each having enlarged metalliccontact elements at their terminals, an insulated housing having a pairof elongated recesses therein, said recesses opening through narrowelongated slots in one face of said housing, said slots having enlargedportions for the reception of said contact elements so that said pairsof contact elements are received in contact and in superimposed relationto each other within said recesses, the major portion of said slotsbeing narrower than said contact elements so that said contactelementsare retained within said re- .cesses with said wires extendingthrough said slots, and movable means engaging said'contact elements toprevent longitudinal displacement of said elements along said recesses.

4. .An electric connector means comprising, in combination, a pluralityof pairs of insulated conducting wires each having enlarged metalliccontact elements at their terminals, an insulated housing having a pairof elongated recesses therein, said recesses opening through narrowelongated slots in .oneiace of said housing, said slots.

having enlarged portions for the reception, of said contact elements,sothatthe contact elements for said pairs of conducting wires arearranged in contact and in superimposed relation to each other withinsaid recesses, the major portion of said slots being narrower than saidcontact elements so that said contact elements are retained within saidrecesses with the wires extending through said slots, and movable meanshaving wedging surfaces pivotally mounted adjacent said enlargedportions of said slotsso as to cover said slots and engage said contactelements to prevent displacement of said elements along said. recesses.

5. An electric connector means adapted for use on a Christmas tree,comprising, in combination, a plurality of pairs of insulated conductingwires, said pairs of wires being of different lengths, each of saidwires having enlarged metallic contact elements at theirterminals, aninsulated housing having a pair of elongated recesses therein, saidrecesses opening through narrow elongated slots in one face of saidhousing, said slots being enlarged for the reception of said contactelements so that said contact elements are received within said recessesand arranged so that said pairs of conducting wires are in parallelcircuit, the major portion of said slots being narrower than saidcontact elementsso that said contact elements are retained within saidrecesses with said wires covering the enlarged portion of said slots.

6.. An electrical connector means comprising, in

combination, a pair of. insulated conducting wires 1 having enlargedmetallic contact elements at their terminals, an insulated housinghaving a pair of elongated slots in one face of said housing, said slotshaving enlarged portions for the reception of said contact elements, themajor portion of said slots being narrower than said contact elements sothat said contact elements are retained within said recesses with saidwires extending through said'slots, other contact elements disposedwithin said housing engaging said first named contact elements forestablishe ing an electrical connection therebetween, and means engagingsaid first named contact elements to hold said first named contactelements in contact with said other contact elements.

VICTOR H.- CHRISTEN;

